The Map page shows your trap layout on Google Maps. (The trap locations are stored on the Trapper server and displayed over the top of Google Maps imagery when you open the page.) You can click on the satellite imagery by means of the button at the top right, which is obviously useful for pinpointing where things are in the countryside. To zoom in or out, you can scroll with the mouse, use the +/- symbols on your keyboard, or move the +/- slider on the screen. Over the map, your cursor will be a hand symbol. Click anywhere and slide the mouse to move the centre of the map. (On a mobile device, you can also use the usual touchscreen gestures.)
When you first visit the Map page you will probably see a dialogue asking you to agree to share your device location with the app/website. On a mobile device you must agree to this, because location data are fundamental to Trapper; if you are viewing the Map page on a computer at home, there is no need to share your location.
Once you have entered some traps, the Map page will automatically centre and zoom so as to show them all. (If you have organised them into Beats, the map will show the currently selected beat.)
Traps are represented by shield-shaped symbols. The colours are significant:
| Yellow |
|
New trap, not yet saved |
| Green |
|
Active trap, inspection not imminently required |
| Amber |
|
Active trap, inspection due today |
| Red |
|
Active trap overdue for inspection (normally > 24 hours) |
| White |
|
Trap in situ but inactivated |
| Yellow with '1' |
|
First trap on the currently selected Beat |
The ‘point’ at the bottom of the shield symbol indicates the location of the trap. The trap location is determined when you first create and save the trap position, either on the Map page or when standing at the trap site and using the Field Recording page on your mobile device.
Hovering the cursor over a trap symbol will bring up a label showing the trap name, trap type (in brackets) and the time since the last inspection. If you want to edit trap details, click on the symbol to bring up the Edit Trap dialogue.
Adding new traps from the Map page
If you have already created beats from your traps, first select the beat you want to add the trap into. There is a ‘new trap’ symbol (yellow with green image) at the top-right margin of the map screen. Select this and drag it to the correct position on the map. As you drag the trap symbol, a small cross appears to show exactly where the shield symbol is pointing. Once you have the position right, left-click on the symbol again, and fill in the trap details in the dialogue box that appears. Once you have saved these details, the trap symbol can no longer be moved. Do not navigate away from the Map page until new traps have all been saved – otherwise the symbols will not be there when you return.
Creating beats from your trap list
Once you have added a number of traps, you can arrange them into beats, listing the traps in the order in which you expect to visit them. Creating a beat can be done when adding new traps in the field, or from the Map page. To create a beat from the Map page, click on the pull-down at the top left of the map, and Add New Beat. Now right-click, in order of inspection, on each trap symbol in turn. The first trap will be distinguished with a “1”, and a thin red line will appear, connecting the symbols in order. If you make a mistake, you can click on any individual trap to remove it, or click Clear Beat to start again. When you are happy with the order, save it by clicking the Save Beat button at the top of the map.